The Hamsa hand is a popular apotropaic talisman for magical protection against the evil eye. The word 'Hamsa' means "5" and refers to the five fingers. The number "5" is a powerful number and represents defense, power and fortune.
The Hamsa hand is a prominent Jewish motif that can be found almost everywhere: charms, door entrances, Jewish jewelry, blessings for home and much more. According to the tradition, the Hamsa hand protects the ones who display it in their homes or wear it around their necks. Many believers place the Hamsa hand in their homes and at their work place to ward off the "evil eye". Hamsa hand is also believed to bless the ones who own it with good fortune and success. Shaped as a hand with five fingers, the Hamsa hand is also known as the hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.

Arlene, thank you for noticing that beautiful symbol on the setlist. As you said, the Hamsa is a protective sign, & I would only add these things; it is believed to bring its possessor happiness, luck, health, peace, & good fortune (i.e. five blessings). Also, about the 5 fingers of the Hamsa/ hand: Five ("hamesh" in Hebrew) represents the five books of the Torah for Jews. It also symbolizes the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet ("heh"), which represents one of God's holy names. Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hand remind its wearer/owner to use their five senses to praise God.

There is a Hamsa Prayer:

Let no sadness come through this gate,
Let no trouble come to these walls,
Let no conflict be in this place,
Let this home be filled with the blessing of joy and peace.

I only know these things because a very wonderful friend gave me a ceramic Hamsa as a gift, along with a write-up on the significance of the symbol. But what now troubles me is, the the hole in my ceramic Hamsa, by which one would hang it on the wall, is on the side opposite the fingers (near where the wrist would be), which causes one to hang it facing downward, instead of upward, like it is in the setlist. When I saw the picture in the setlist, I thought, "That makes alot more sense, for it to face upward". Now I'm wondering if having it face downward might bring "ill fortune", or the opposite of blessings/protection, upon my household, & if I should try to make another hole in it, so I could hang it facing upward (?) Or maybe its okay for it to face either way(?) Does anyone know something about this?

Magdalena: that certainly is a very special setlist - I am very happy that you have received such a wonderful gift!! And how sweet, that Our Man put this beautiful symbol of blessing/protection on the setlist for a Rosh Hoshana concert - I love that!

"So Long Marianne" - the audience gets a big smile from Leonard when they start to sing along right from the beginning -
- and Javier joins in the vocals and does a little conducting at 1:11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp6UnhHh9xc

Last edited by sturgess66 on Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:12 am, edited 2 times in total.

At home again, tomorrow I'll start to upload to Youtube videos of the concert. Not many (eight or nine), because security people asked me not to record it (I was in the front row). I think, however, that although the sound quality is not ideal, but the videos reflect the mood of those attending the concert.

Juan Luis Corcobado wrote:At home again, tomorrow I'll start to upload to Youtube videos of the concert. Not many (eight or nine), because security people asked me not to record it (I was in the front row). I think, however, that although the sound quality is not ideal, but the videos reflect the mood of those attending the concert.

I apologize if the Google translator makes me say something stupid.

Juan Luis - I think that "Google Translate"was kind to you.
All the stupid honors go to the security people.

Heike - you are blessed.
And you didn't imagine the new intro for "Born In Chains."
The intro could turn into a separate poem or little book!
I think we are at the third verse now - and we are trying to keep track - here - viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22423

The Hamsa hand is a popular apotropaic talisman for magical protection against the evil eye. The word 'Hamsa' means "5" and refers to the five fingers. The number "5" is a powerful number and represents defense, power and fortune.
The Hamsa hand is a prominent Jewish motif that can be found almost everywhere: charms, door entrances, Jewish jewelry, blessings for home and much more. According to the tradition, the Hamsa hand protects the ones who display it in their homes or wear it around their necks. Many believers place the Hamsa hand in their homes and at their work place to ward off the "evil eye". Hamsa hand is also believed to bless the ones who own it with good fortune and success. Shaped as a hand with five fingers, the Hamsa hand is also known as the hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.

Arlene, thank you for noticing that beautiful symbol on the setlist. As you said, the Hamsa is a protective sign, & I would only add these things; it is believed to bring its possessor happiness, luck, health, peace, & good fortune (i.e. five blessings). Also, about the 5 fingers of the Hamsa/ hand: Five ("hamesh" in Hebrew) represents the five books of the Torah for Jews. It also symbolizes the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet ("heh"), which represents one of God's holy names. Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hand remind its wearer/owner to use their five senses to praise God.

There is a Hamsa Prayer:

Let no sadness come through this gate,
Let no trouble come to these walls,
Let no conflict be in this place,
Let this home be filled with the blessing of joy and peace.

I only know these things because a very wonderful friend gave me a ceramic Hamsa as a gift, along with a write-up on the significance of the symbol. But what now troubles me is, the the hole in my ceramic Hamsa, by which one would hang it on the wall, is on the side opposite the fingers (near where the wrist would be), which causes one to hang it facing downward, instead of upward, like it is in the setlist. When I saw the picture in the setlist, I thought, "That makes alot more sense, for it to face upward". Now I'm wondering if having it face downward might bring "ill fortune", or the opposite of blessings/protection, upon my household, & if I should try to make another hole in it, so I could hang it facing upward (?) Or maybe its okay for it to face either way(?) Does anyone know something about this?

Magdalena: that certainly is a very special setlist - I am very happy that you have received such a wonderful gift!! And how sweet, that Our Man put this beautiful symbol of blessing/protection on the setlist for a Rosh Hoshana concert - I love that!

Rachel: Thank you for adding the wonderful elaboration of the Hamsa symbol used on the Lisboa setlist.

I'm beginning to upload videos that I could take. Unfortunately, due to my mistake, not in HD quality, but I think they are interesting. Nine or ten in total. In the coming hours and days I will complete the collection ... (The security personnel stopped me from recording in various moments, so most of my material is for the encores). I suggest you get back to this message from time to time to find the latest news. Thank you very much for your "warm reception".

How excessive can it be?
The first time, it was a dream come true.
The 2nd time it was the same experience repeated seated (in the first we was all upright in a outdoor concert...), more "intimist" (sorry for my bad english).

What about this 3rd time?
Well, standing ovation before starting the show (like a great "thank you for blessing us again, we love you too").
And everybody standing again, and again, in the first part, the 2nd part, and since the ending of this one, the always standing of almost all the people present until he got's tired of the encore's.
The music, well, as pure, clear and beautiful as if it was composed yesterday by this young man with this fabulous voice, each year even better....

I'm beginning to upload videos that I could take. Unfortunately, due to my mistake, not in HD quality, but I think they are interesting. Nine or ten in total. In the coming hours and days I will complete the collection ... (The security personnel stopped me from recording in various moments, so most of my material is for the encores). I suggest you get back to this message from time to time to find the latest news. Thank you very much for your "warm reception".

Juan Luis, I have been eagerly anticipating your videos and you delivered two treasures. They are wonderful. You have captured the joy of the audience in "Marianne" so beautifully. And your "Partisan" is very moving.

September 13, 2010 - Monday Leonard Cohen Lisbon offers over three hours of music

More than three and a half hours of music may even seem a little for a lifetime of songs. But it was enough for Leonard Cohen fans leave Portugal on a full stomach after a marathon, in Atlantic Pavilion, which toured the major successes of a discography already 43 years.

In the third consecutive concert in our country, the Canadian singer-songwriter returned to show that old people are the rags. Close to completing 76 years of age, Cohen has not only breath that reaches to 29 subjects in one night, but also continues to seduce generations with a hoarse voice and a warm grave.

Divided into two parts, with an interval of 15 minutes in between, the show this Friday has been stealthily gaining an audience that the vast majority knew that the vineyard.

After all, the room was well-composed audience of almost all ages ready to hear from the author's own songs that for years have been immortalized in the voices of Nina Simone, Judy Collins, Jeff Buckley or John Cale, among many others.

And so, since "Dance Me to the End of Love" by "Heart With No Companion," with passages mandatory (and duly applauded) by 'I'm Your Man', 'In My Secret Life', 'Bird On A Wire 'and' Hallelujah '. If Leonard Cohen was as irrepressible singer of tales, the band that accompanied him was not back - nine skilled musicians, some of them accompanying the Canadian decades, such as bassist and musical director, Roscoe Beck.

Much applause was also the Spaniard Javier But, master of the mandolin and acoustic guitar, 12 strings, essential parts in a machine needs tuning stage that traveled the world during the past two years.

A few months after the end of the tour, this was a show that served as a farewell to the Portuguese fans and it is impossible not to think that soon we will not have the honor of hosting a concert in authentic living legend of contemporary music.

For the faithful followers of Leonard Cohen, more than three and a half hour show was the ideal gift for that bye and will certainly be in memory for a long time. However, the more distracted in relation to the work of the singer would not digested as easily have a performance that goes well beyond the conventional boundaries of a concert 'normal'.

But in the end, who has a considerable human frame and in front of the stage (the chairs in the audience were so forgotten by many), the reactions were unanimous in time to applaud the master of the black suit. Cohen took off his hat countless times, thanks to a warm welcome from the public yielded to the charm and lyrical of Canadian talent.

'Thank us, Mr. Cohen. Come back. "

Alignment of the concerto:

Part one
1. Dance Me to the End of Love
2. The Future
3. Is not No Cure for Love
4. Bird on a Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who By Fire
8. The Darkness
9. Born in Chains
10. Chelsea Hotel # 2
11. Waiting for the Miracle
12. Anthem

Second part
13. Tower of Song
14. Suzanne
15. Sisters of Mercy
16. The Gypsy Wife
17. Feels So Good
18. The Partisan
19. Boogie Street
20. Hallelujah
21. I'm Your Man
22. Take this Waltz

Encore 1
23. So Long, Marianne
24. First We Take Manhattan

Encore 2
25. Famous Blue Raincoat
26. If It Be Your Will
27. Closing Time